Safety device for ladders



G. VULL, DECD.

M- VOLL, ADMlNl-STRATRIX.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR LADDERS.

APPLKCATION FILED APR-2.1919.

1,352,566. Pammedsept. 14, 1920.

IN VENTOR Gus-raw You.

3 ATTORNEY umjlw' UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

GUSTAV VOLL, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON; MARIE VOLLADMINISTEATRIX OF SAID GUSTAV VOLL, DECEASED. I

SAFETY DEVICE 'FOR LADDERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV Tom, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Safety Device for Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in safety devices for ladders and the objects of my improvements are to provide an auxiliary leg which can be detachably fastened to any leg of a ladder, said auxiliary leg having a reversible foot which adapts the device to be used on any suitable surface without the ladder slipping, or injury to any surface that needs protection.

I attain these objects by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a section of a ladder leg, with the device attached.

Fig. 2 is a detached enlarged view of the reversible foot, with a section cut away.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the device at tached to a ladder leg, drawn on the line rc:0 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of the inner surface of a sliding block which contacts with the front edge of a ladder leg, when device is in operative position.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 illustrates the body member of the device, carrying at one end a head 2, having an inclined face provided with slight projections. The other end of the body member is interiorly threaded and carries a reversible foot 3. Arms 4:, extending across and beyond each side of the ladder leg are bolted to the head 2, or fastened in any other suitable manner so as to permit free action, their free ends being threaded. 5, is a member substantially rectangular in form, slidably connected with the threaded ends of the arms 4:, and adapted to coact with the winged nuts 6 in clamping the device to a ladder leg. The surface of this member which contacts with the edge of the ladder leg is ridged 0r roughened to make it better grip the surface of the wood.

Fi 2, being an enlarged view of the reversiliie foot 3, is partly cut away to show Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sgpt 141., 1?}20.

Application filed April 2, 1919.

Serial No. 286,935.

the insertion of a tip of rubber or other non-slippable material, 7. lVhile the gripping surface of this tip can be plain, the preferred form is a tip having said surface provided with ridges or with a diamond pebble tread to enhance its non-slipping properties. The other end of the tip 8 is metallic and pointed.

Fig. 8 illustrates a cross-section of a ladder leg with the device attached, made on the line of Fig. 1, showing the ladder leg, a broken off section of a rung of the ladder, the threaded arms 4, the member 5, thumbnuts 6, the head of the leg, and a bolt extending through the hes d and said arms, with retaining nut. 9, Fig. 3, illustrates one of the slight projections on the inclined face of the head 2, adapted to enter one edge of the ladder leg and more securely hold the head in place.

Fig. 41 illustrates the inner surface of the member 5, adapted to contact with and grip the front edge of a ladder leg.

In use, the device can be placed along almost any section of a ladder leg to conform to theangle at which the ladder is adjusted, but it is made of a sufficient height so that it can be invariably clamped above the first round of a ladder. It can be attached to one or both legs of a ladder. The reversible foot is designed to accommodate the device to all conditions, to furnish additional support and to prevent a ladder from slipping. F or instance, the point 8 is especially adapted for use in icy weather or where a ladder rests in yielding material such as sand, gravel, etc. Should the ladder be used on a hardwood floor or smooth, hard surface of any kind, the user can unscrew the foot, reverse it, and utilize the tip 7, of rubber or other similar material, keep ing the ladder from slipping and preventing any defacement of the surface. The device aifords an auxiliary leg or legs to a ladder, gives it more strength, prevents it from slipping under any conditions, and with its self-contained means can be instantly applied to ladders of all sizes. No screws or similar fastenings are needed, no fixtures mounted on the ladder are required to receive it, the clamping means adapting it and securely it to any ladder.

Having thus described my invention, I I

' one end and carrying thereat a reversible foot, the other end earrylng a head having an inclined face with slight projections in spaced parallel relation, the free ends thereof threaded and adapted to extend he 10 yond the sides of a ladder leg, a block slidably engaged With said ends, and Winged nuts threaded on said ends and coacting With the block, and adapted tocl'ampingly attach said device to a ladder. thereon, arms bolted to the head extending GUSTAV voLL.v 

